Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
And what did I do? I almost ran away. It wasn’t until Tony’s hand held mine in place, a quizzical look on his face, that I realized what I’d been about to do. From there, we walked in together, each of us checking in, and neither of us seemed to want to go our separate ways to enter our rooms.
“You’re not pleading the Fifth. We’re not in a court of law,” Letty says with a smile, clearly hanging out with her man, Matthew, the lawyer of the group, a bit too much.
“I can fill in the blanks. They’ve kissed. At least twice. Maybe they’ve done more?” Shae, my traitorous sister, says before tossing a grape in her mouth. We’re currently receiving manicures and pedicures while eating our way through the many charcuterie boards and drinking the non-alcoholic drinks set up as well.
“Oh, they’ve done a hell of a lot more by the way your sister is getting hot under the collar,” Ronnie says from her place to the left of me. I’d send her a scathing look, but what good would it do?
“Come on, let us live vicariously through you, Cora.” This comes from Lennie, Asher’s wife and mom to twin girls.
“I think you know how the birds and the bees work.” I’d fist-bump Macie, Tysen’s pregnant fiancée, if I weren’t so far away.
“Today and tonight aren’t supposed to be about me. It’s all about the bride.” I sit back in the pedicure chair, close my eyes, and try to block out the chatter that’s going on in the room. Fat lot of good it does when Lyric taps me on my arm.
“You may as well give in. You know this group, they’re like a dog with a bone. Plus, we’re all happy you and Gallo finally got together.” Her bubbly personality is infectious, and while I’ve been added to this group of amazing women, I guess I'm in it now, too. It also makes me sad that my own group has drifted away recently, or maybe that’s on me? I’m the one lone ranger in our bunch, able to go and do more at a moment’s notice, whereas they’ve settled down with either a husband or have a family.
I get it, I do, but the women I’m with now have never made me feel anything less or like a burden. So, maybe it’s one of those instances where you grow apart, but it still stings at times.
“Thank you. We haven’t put a label on anything. We’re into each other and playing it day by day. Or I think we are? We haven’t talked specifics,” I tell the room.
“Too busy doing the horizontal tango instead?” Kenny asks with laughter.
“That was so lame,” Rory, Jude’s sister and Ronnie’s sidekick through and through, replies.
“Whatever. I’m old and can’t keep up with the lingo these days.” I snort because she has a daughter, Briar, who is most certainly up with the times.
“I hate to change the subject, but we’ve got about two point five seconds until the menfolk converge on us. Apparently, they didn’t plan too well. They’re out of snacks and drinks.” Serena holds up the phone, showing off the message she received from Crew. I don’t think I’ve ever wished for men to intrude on a girl’s night until now.
“Thank you,” I mouth back at her, unsure if what she said is true or not. Either way, the girls bemoan the situation for a few minutes, each of them full of shit, and I say this with nothing but love and affection. They go hard for their men, and their men go even harder for them.
“You’re welcome,” Serena replies, which means she did the Lord’s work and rounded up the troops. A good thing since we’re finishing up on our nails. We started with massages and facials before moving on to the last part. And we still have the firepits reserved to make s’mores. Something tells me that the event might not happen after all.
“Love you, baby sis.” Shae comes over to me, dropping a peppermint in my lap. “This is from Gallo,” she says with a wink. I furrow my eyebrows, trying to read between the lines.
“What’s going on?” I ask, realizing she’s got an ace up her sleeve. A poker face she does not have, which is why I can read her like a book.
“You’ll see.” She meanders away, floating with her movements with a glow surrounding her. She and the others swear it’s the pregnancy hormones, I think it has a lot more to do with my sister being in love.
“The life of the party is here.” Jagger strolls in, followed by the others one by one. Asher, Trent, Tysen, Johnny, Jude, Crew, Matthew, and then saving the absolute best for last, Tony. His eyes clock me immediately. I slowly unwrap the peppermint candy, his gaze intent, and when my lips wrap around the delicious sweet, he prowls toward me. The hunger written on his face says it all. The candy my sister said was from him still doesn’t add up, but maybe he knew they’d be here. And the man has made many remarks about liking my taste.